Mo. caucus chairman denies hijacking event for Santorum

The local caucus chairman who officiated what was arguably Missouri’s most rowdy Saturday caucus denied in a series of messages to The Daily Caller that he unfairly controlled the proceedings to assist the campaign of former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, as supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney have alleged.

Eugene Dokes, the chair of the St. Charles County, Mo. Republican caucus, inspired a revolt by Paul and Romney partisans when he was placed in charge of the event.

A photo of Dokes with Santorum appears on Dokes’ campaign website for Missouri state representative, and on his personal Facebook page. TheDC was unable to locate any photographs showing Dokes with another presidential candidate.

When TheDC asked about his affiliation with Santorum, and why Robert’s Rules of Order weren’t followed during Saturday’s caucus, Dokes replied via email: “Just wantd [sic] to let you know that I have absolutely no affiliationnwith [sic] Santorum or his campaign.”

“I have met him when he visited by county and i even stood on stage whilenhe [sic] was there, but that was because he was in my county and inwas [sic] the chair,” Dokes wrote. “Thats it.”

Dokes then informed TheDC that, “I do nt [sic] have time are ability to answer thisnquestion [sic] again. However lease [sic] visit thisnsite [sic] which hasnaccurately [sic] recorded my response to these accusations.” (RELATED: Full coverage of the Santorum campaign)

Bryce Steinhoff, a Ron Paul coordinator, told TheDC that Bryan Spencer, chairman of the local Republican Party’s caucus subcommittee, said during the March 8 meeting that he would challenge the St. Charles delegation “on a technicality if he had to” if any one group were to “hijack” the caucus by taking all the delegates or otherwise not allowing for a proportionate distribution.

No delegates were ultimately assigned in St. Charles County. The event concluded with two arrests after police were called in to restore order.

Committee members disregarded Robert’s Rules of Order when nominations and motions came from the floor. A rule banning recording devices was never voted on, leading to claims that the proceedings purposely lacked transparency. In addition, the caucus adjourned without the two-thirds vote required to end a caucus with unfinished business.

Caucus participant Brent Stafford took the caucus outside and attempted to instruct people on how to re-credential themselves to continue. Police detained him for a few hours before telling him he had been arrested on a trespassing charge.